West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Friday, 10 July issued a firm warning against 'hooliganism' and 'corruption' during his first official visit to Murshidabad district — a minority-dominated region that has witnessed significant unrest in recent months. Adhikari addressed a public rally at Rejinagar and chaired an administrative review meeting at Baharampur, signalling a zero-tolerance posture from the new state government.

Key Warnings at Rejinagar Rally

At the Rejinagar public rally, Adhikari reminded residents that the West Bengal Public Safety and Control of Anti-Social Activities Bill, 2026 will come into force from 14 July, targeting corruption and anti-social behaviour. He declared that incidents such as damaging public property, attacking police stations, and assaulting officers 'will be matters of the past.'

Adhikari made a pointed reference to past violence in the district. 'What happened in pockets of Murshidabad like Shamserganj and Dhulian will not happen again. Strict action will be taken against those resorting to hooliganism henceforth,' he asserted. He also underscored measures being taken to ensure women's safety and curb trafficking, with such cases to be fast-tracked through the judicial process.

Addressing public grievances, the Chief Minister assured citizens that they could contact his office directly to report concerns about police performance, promising prompt action. However, he drew a clear line: 'Taking the law into one's own hands will not be tolerated. Any attempt or speech to incite violence will be dealt with strictly.'

Administrative Directives at Baharampur

At the administrative review meeting in Baharampur, Adhikari turned his attention to governance integrity. He cautioned officials against corruption in state government functioning and directed them to ensure that welfare scheme benefits reach only genuine beneficiaries — a recurring challenge in districts with dense populations and complex social dynamics.

He also warned against the issuance of fake birth and caste certificates, a practice that has reportedly enabled fraud in welfare delivery across several Bengal districts. Officials were directed to tighten document verification processes immediately.

Border Security and Infiltration Concerns

Given Murshidabad's extensive international border with Bangladesh, Adhikari directed the state police to coordinate closely with the Border Security Force (BSF) to prevent illegal infiltration. This comes amid heightened sensitivity around cross-border movement in the region, particularly following recent communal disturbances that drew national attention.

Notably, this is Adhikari's first district-level visit since assuming office, and the choice of Murshidabad — a politically sensitive and strategically located district — underscores the new government's intent to establish administrative authority in areas perceived as flashpoints. How the administration follows through on these directives, particularly once the new public safety law takes effect on 14 July, will be closely watched.